MILFORD -- Amanda Forcucci can't remember the last time Lauralton Hall lost a game within the SWC, and it isn't because she hasn't been paying attention.

It's because she wasn't even around when it happened.

Forcucci has yet to lose a game against SWC opponents since taking over as head coach three years ago. That includes two straight undefeated regular seasons and two straight conference championships.

After surviving a tough battle against SWC-rival Kolbe Cathedral Friday night, it appears as if Forucci and the Crusaders are right on track to make it three in a row.

Standout senior guard Carly Fabbri scored a game-high 20 points and the Crusaders used their experience in big games to pull away with a 57-47 victory in a matchup between the final two undefeated teams in the SWC.

Kolbe Cathedral (10-2 overall, 8-1 SWC) got to within five points early in the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as 11 late in the first half, using a third-quarter scoring explosion by senior guard Kiara Epps (16 points) and a strong defensive effort that forced 22 Crusaders turnovers.

Kolbe Cathedral actually had all the momentum after Epps opened the final frame with a layup to make it 43-38. But Lauralton Hall made sure the Cougars got no closer than that, using a 7-0 run to take a 50-38 lead before using a solid defensive effort of its own down the stretch to nail down the victory.

Lauralton, the fourth-ranked team in the state, is now 13-1 overall and 10-0 in the SWC.

"This was such a battle, I think our kids felt like they just won a fight," Forcucci said. "This is a big win on many levels. They're a very good team and we had to fight to win this one."

Knowing they haven't lost a game within the SWC since the 2010-2011 season has actually helped the Crusaders during close games like this. Lauralton, whose only loss this season came against second-ranked Mercy, simply does not want to relinquish its stranglehold on the conference.

"I don't think they think of it as pressure. It's more of a pride thing," Forcucci said. "They feel like, we don't want to lose and we want to get the highest ranking possible. They take it as a responsibility."

Kolbe Cathedral did a nice job defending Fabbri behind the play of Epps and Keyonni Adams, limiting her to just five field goals on the night. Unfortunately for the Cougars, four of those ended up being 3-pointers, including a step-back shot that made it 49-38 with 4:40 left.

Kolbe Cathedral kept pushing Fabbri farther and farther back behind the 3-point line. But Fabbri, who went 6-for-7 from the foul line while adding six assists, three steals and five rebounds to her ledger, just kept making them.

"We never have any doubt about Carly in big games like this. She always steps up and is ready to play," Forcucci said. "She loves the pressure and wants the ball in tough situations. If we need a big shot, she's going to take it."

That was the way the night went for Kolbe Cathedral. Lauralton Hall went just 17-for-42 from the floor but made up for it with a 6-for-9 effort on 3-pointers.

The Cougars also dominated the second quarter, forcing 10 Crusaders turnovers while holding Lauralton to a 4-for-9 effort from the floor. Kolbe Cathedral just couldn't make up any ground, getting outscored 13-12 in the quarter with Epps and senior forward Denisha Gardner on the bench with three fouls each.

Lauralton led 19-11 after the first quarter with senior forward Emily Menendez (six rebounds) scoring six of her 11 points in the frame before extending its advantage to 28-18 in the second.

"We just started out too slow. We weren't really in sync," Kolbe Cathedral coach Lisa Hodges said. "We could have done better, but it's only January. There were some defensive stops we should have gotten and shots that should have been made, but it's still early. I actually like where we are right now."

Epps got Kolbe Cathedral back in the game in the third, opening the frame with nine straight points and finishing with 11 of her team's 13 points in the quarter.

Epps opened the fourth with another basket, but Lauralton put the game out of reach with its 7-0 run, including a basket by Menendez off a feed by Fabbri.